On the 3rd September an orphan elephant calf was seen by guests from Satao camp while on a game drive. They first saw the calf when leaving the camp and upon their return noticed the calf was still alone and decided to notify KWS and DSWT. Nick Trent, the DSWT’s head pilot, received the report and mobilized the DSWT antipoaching team that was happened to be in the area.

By the time the Voi keepers arrived, othe DSWT antipoaching team had already caught the calf and restrained it waiting for the keepers to arrive. The calf was over two years old and we decided to raise him in Voi, company for Bada another recently orphaned youngster rather than air lifted to the Nairobi nursery. The team drove the tuskless calf to the Voi Nursery. On arrival she settled quickly with the close company of the other orphan Bada, approaching the keepers for a milk bottle in no time. The two later went to greet one another with trunk touching in the taming stables and it was clear they were going to grow to become great friends.

The calf, named Sorka, and Orma tribal name from the area. She had lion claw marks on her behind so had obviously had an extremely lucky escape. Other than the superficial wounds she was in good health though it appeared that she had been on her own for a while and walked enormous distanced. Despite her age she is remains tuskless and we think she will perhaps be a tuskless elephant, as she should have ivory showing by this stage given her age. She has settled in well at Voi and is enjoying much love and attention from a brand new herd of orphans that she was lucky enough to find herself among.